University of Washington students gather at Husky Union Building to view elections

Husky Union Building at University of Washington (Photo by Lauren LeMieux/UW Election Eye)

SEATTLE–With so many viewing parties happening in Seattle tonight, it can be hard to pick the perfect spot. But the newly renovated Husky Union Building on the UW’s Seattle campus appears to be the destination of choice for many students so far – and even for some who don’t attend the UW.

Alem Hamzie and Nebojsa Pavlouie, both 17 and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said they have been looking forward to this night for quite some time.

“When we were selected to go on this program they said ‘oh, you guys will be there during the elections,’ so this is something that we have been waiting for,” Pavlouie said.

Both Hamzie and Pavouie are part of an 18-member youth leadership group that is working with Foundation for International Understanding Through Students at UW. FIUTS is a program that fosters an international community through the connection of international and American students. The group from Bosnia and Herzegovina are staying in Seattle for three weeks and then will travel to Washington, D.C., for their last week in the U.S.

“America plays a big role in the world so [elections] are big event and it’s really important, even for us in our tiny little country,” said Pavlouie.

Maxine Sugarman, a member of Office of Governmental Relations of ASUW, said that she was attracted to this event because it was inclusive of all students.

“Just looking around I don’t know everyone here, I think that’s a good sign that someone who is a part of the association is seeing new faces.”

Brandon Himes, ASUW Director of Communications who works in the HUB, joked that he attended the event because it was a “close commute.”

Himes said he did not have an expectation of what the turnout would be like for the night. His impression so far is that it’s been nice to have people who support all different kinds of issues gathered in one spot.

The event at the HUB was jointly sponsored by the Office of Governmental Relations of ASUW, the Arts and Entertainment of ASUW and the ASUW Joint Commissions Committee.

Daniel Pham, a senior sociology major at the UW, stumbled upon the event by accident.

“I was walking up to see what it was all about, then there was a lot of students so I figured I’d just join,” said Pham.

Pham said he plans to stay if his friends show up. “I texted them and was like ‘hey, come to the HUB.’”

If they don’t make it, he said he will likely go to a friend’s apartment and continue to follow the elections.

Sugarman and Himes say they plan to stay at least until they announce the Montana results because they are both citizens of that state.

“It’s kind of super cool, because you watch this on TV at home and now you are in the U.S. and watching it for real,” said Pavouie.